Barrel-elevator



(No Model.)

M. LOFTIN.

BARREL ELEVATOR.

31 ,533,364. Patented JaJn. 29, 1895.

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STATE s PATENT OFFICE.

BARREL-ELEVATOR.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 533,364, datedJanuary 29, 1895. Application filed August 31, 1894:. Serial No.521,819- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE LOFTIN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Metcalf, in the county of Edgar and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrel-Elevators;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. 1

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation of theinvention partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation oftheinvention. Fig. 3 is a plan of the invention. Fig. 4 is a detail ofone of the dogs.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inbarrel elevators, the object being to provide a simple, convenient, andreadily operated device by means of which a barrel, or similar object orpackage can be elevated to the desired height to facilitate thedischarge of its contents, or for other purposes; and the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all ashereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates asuitable base or support, to which is rigidly secured an upright B,having therein an elongated, vertical slot 0. Upon each side of saidslot, upon both faces of the upright, are secured vertical ratch-bars D,whose teeth have elongated inclines a, and shoulders a which are alsosomewhatinclined from front to back. There are, therefore, four of theseratches, two upon each side of the upright, the shoulders a ofcorrespondingteeth of the ratches upon one side being in the samehorizontal plane, but above or below the planes of the correspondingshoulders on the opposite face of the upright. The two ratch bars uponeach side of the standard form between them a vertical way or groove ofconsiderable depth.

D designates alever which extends through the slot ofthe upright, thelonger arm of said lever forming a handle, and the shorter arm a seat orsupport for the article to be raised,

being formed into a broad curved fork E. Pivotally attached to the saidlever upon opposite sides of the upright are two similar pawls or dogsF, F, consisting each of a curved plate slotted to embrace the lever,and having at its upper edge a slotted curved tonguef, which extendsinto and fits approximately the vertical way or groove between theratch-bars. The end portion of the tongue is formed with an eye orbearing f to receive a pin G which passes loosely through the lever. Itwill be observed that by extending this tongue into the way or groovethe pivotal point of the pawl or dog is brought considerably inside ofthe line of the teeth, whereby the gravity of the pawl or dog will throwit into engagement with such teeth more efiectively. By reason of thisfact, it is not necessary to employ a massive or eccentrically weightedpawl, as would be the case were the pivotal point outside of the line ofteeth. The inner ends of the tongues owing to their having contact withthe walls of said vertical ways or grooves, act as stops to limit thebackward and forward throw of the lever, and as guides to preventlateral play of the lever in the slot of the standard. At 9 9 said plateis formed with lateral arms or projections which engage the lateraledges of the ratch bars, and set as guides to pre Vent lateral swing ofthe dog or pawl. The lower edge of each dog or pawl is arranged to takea bearing upon the shoulders a of the ratch-bar.

The operation of the device is asfollows: The barrel or other object tobe elevated is placed upon the fork E, and the lever is operated. Uponthe up stroke of the power arm of the lever, said lever fulcrums uponthe dog F, which takes a bearing upon the shoulders of the teeth uponthat side of the upright, the other dog F riding loosely on the inclinesa of the approximately opposite teeth upon the opposite ratches, untilit drops upon the shoulders thereof. Upon the down stroke of the powerarm, the fulcrum is upon the dog F and the dog F rides loosely upon theratches. It will be obvious therefore, that the continued operationofthe lever results in a step-by-step climb of the lever and dogs upon theratches, raising the barrel or other object. The lever, moreover, willlock itself at any desired elevation by the engagement of both dogs withthe ratches. WVhen, however, the lever is loaded with a barrel or otherobject, and is locked in any position on the 5 standard, the lock iseffected by the dog F which receives all the weight, the other dogbeinglit'ted out of contact with the rack teeth, and the greater theweight sustained by the lever, the more secure is the lock. To lower IOthe lever, both dogs are'held away from the ratches. It will be observedthat the fork of the lever is offset or dropped below the plane of thelover, whereby the forward end of said lever forms a shoulder orabutment which holds the barrel from pitching or rolling toward thestandard as the lever is operated. Chains H are also usually provided tosecure the barrel on the fork.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device for elevating barrels or the like the combination with thevertically slotted standards, and the ratch bars secured to each facethereof and forming between each pair thereof a vertical way or groove,of the lever extending loosely through the slot of the standard, and apair of dogs or pawls fulcrurned to the said lever upon opposite sidesof the standard, said dogs having each a curved tongue engaging the wayor groove between'the adjacent ratch bars, said tongues having at theirinner ends the bearings for the pivots whereby such pivots are broughtinside the line of the teeth of said bars, said tongues also acting asstops and guides, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVILLE LOFTIN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES MANUEL, FRED HOOVER.

